Sterilizing apparatus for surgical and dental appliances and the like



Aug. 23, 19382 J, PEL'LKOFER 2,127,932

STERILIZING APPARATUS FQR SURGICAL AND DENTAL APPLIANCES AND THE LIKEFiled July 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L Q 15 14 .5 u 7 22 5, 2? 5k 40 14u 55 6'1 3/4 at? 5 I; 4 33 1:2 .43 .1;

Jose h, Fukcger N v: N PDQ J. PELLKOFER STERILIZING APPARATUS FQRSURGICAL AND DENTAL APPLI ANCES AND THE LIKE Filed .m 24, 1937 s sneetsshetz Sea-2 k "Kc e f Aug. 23, 1938. I J. PELLKOFER 2,127,932STERILIZING APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL AND DENTAL APFLIANCES AND THE LIKEFiled July 24, 193"! 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

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STERILIZING APPARATUS FOR SURGICAL AND DENTAL APPLIANCES AND THE LIKEJoseph Pellkoter, Regensburg, Germany Application July 24, 1937, SerialNo. 155,479

Germany August 3, 1936 6 Claims. --(CI. 21-93) With the usual methods ofsterilizing surgical and dental instruments, bandages and otherappliances the sterilized article is transferred from the sterilizingapparatus to a cabinet which has not itself been sterilized andcontamination may occur both in this cabinet and during the transfer. Itis also the case that the bench or table on which such instruments areused cannot generally be sterilized after each operation, so that inmost cases a paper or cloth cover must be used, which can be changed atfrequent intervals. This is inconvenient and causes loss of time.

The object of my invention is to remove these disadvantages. For thispurpose I provide for the articles a cabinet having numerouscompartments which surround a tube or pipe delivering hot air or othergas for sterilizing purposes, this tube or pipe having branches whichcan be opened and closed separately so that the gas can be admitted tothe compartments as required, and the cabinet, with the tube or pipe,being rotatable about the axis of the pipe, so that by turning thecabinet the user can obtain access to any selected compartment withoutchanging his position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, oneembodiment thereof being shown in Fig. 1, which is a vertical section,thereof,

Fig. 2 being a section on the line A-B of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows to a larger scale, in section, the device for admitting hotair to one of the compartments, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line C-D of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 being a plan view of this device, and

Fig. 6 a section on the line E-F of Fig. 3.

Fig. l is a perspective view of a detail of the mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view to a larger scale than Fig.2.

Fig. 9 shows a dish for holding sterilized articles.

Fig. 10 is an electric circuit diagram.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a cabinet of somewhat different construction.

Fig. 12 being a section on the line G--H Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 shows partof this apparatus to a larger scale,

Fig. 1a is a sectional view, fication. x

The apparatus shown-in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a cylindrical cabinet Iof heat proof material, but alternatively the cabinet may be polygonal,

lustrating a modiresistances is shown, marked 06.

It is divided into compartments by horizontal partitions 2 and internalwalls 3. Through the center of the cabinet passes a vertical tube 4,-with the lower part of which the outside wall of the cabinet isconnected by struts 5. The tube has ball or roller bearings 6 and l, andthese engage a short pillar 9 on a foot or bed plate 8, so that the tubeand cabinet can easily be rotated about this pillar.

The lowest horizontal partition, marked 2 supports an electromotor l0,and with this is coupled a fan or blower ll. The electromotor issupplied with current by means of contacts l2 on the plate 8. Thedelivery pipe l3 of the blower opens into the tube 4, and hot air is bythis means blown into the tube. For each compartment in the cabinet thetube 4 has a short branch tube M with a nozzle l5. Electric heatingresistances are disposed in the pipe l3, tube 4 or branches H, forheating the air. The electric circuit is shown in Fig. 10, in which oneof the The number of resistances used, and the manner in which they aredisposed, varies according to requirements.

Each branch pipe 14 is controlled by a valve l8 disposed therein at theinner end of the nozzle l5 (Fig. 3), the valve being rotatable aboutpivots l1 and being controlled by a spring l9 (Figs. 3 and 6), whichtends to rotate the valve into its closed position. Fixed to the valveis a tongue 20, and in the cold state of the apparatus this tongue ispressed by the spring action against a composite metal strip 2l insidethe nozzle l5 (Fig. 4), the valve being thus held open. The strip 2|consists of two metals having widely diiferent coefiicients of expansionunder heat, so that when the strip is heated by hot air it bends, asindicated by broken lines in Fig. 4, and releases the valve, which thenmoves into its closed position.

Some of the compartments in the cabinet have upon the floor thereof asliding tray 22, which can be pulled outwards, the movement beinglimited by screws 24 which pass through slots 23 (Fig. 2). From the rearedge of the tray projects an arm 28, bent at its free end to form ashort transverse spindle 21 (Fig. 7), upon which a normally uprightfinger 26 is pivoted. This finger has a hooked arm 29 resting on the arm28, so that it cannot swing forwards from the upright position in whichit isl normally held by the weight of the arm 29. Consequently, when thetray is pushed inwards the-finger strikes an arm 25 fixed 'to one of thepivots ll of the valve l8,

and opens the valve. When the tray is pulled outwards the finger 26 isable to yield, as indicated by the arrow 30 in Fig. 7, and can thus movepast the arm 25.

The other pivot ll of the valve has fixed thereto an electric contactarm M (Fig. 3) which by the opening of the valve is placed between twospring contacts 32, thereby closing the motor circuit. For eachcompartment there is a pilot lamp 33, fixed externally to the door 34 ofthe compartment. to show that the circuit is closed. Instead of a lampsome other visual signal may be used, or-an acoustic signal.

As shown in Fig. 8 the doors 34 are hinged to the trays 22.

The partition walls 3 have air passages 35, and each sterilizingcompartment has a non-return valve 36 opening out of it into one ofthese air passages. The air passages lead to the chamber 3? containingthe blower ll. This chamber is open to the outer atmosphere through anopening 39 in the partition on which the blower stands, and the gap 38round the plate 8 supporting the cabinet.

The articles to be sterilized are placed in dishes 4% having lids 42with hinges 4|. Each dish has in its wall an opening 43, placed so thatwhen the dish is pushed into one of the sterilizing compartments thenozzle l5 enters the opening. Facing the opening 43 the dish has severalholes 44 for emission of the hot air which has passed through it fromthe nozzle.

As shown in Fig. 2 the dish 40 can be pivotally connected to the tray 22by means of a pin inserted into a hole in the tray. The dish 40, whenremoved from the tray, may for example be placed on a bracket 46 (Fig.9), to which it is fixed by means of a nut 41.

The tube 4 passes through the top 48 of the cabinet and has outside thecabinet a union 49 with a cock 5B, enabling hot air from the tube to beused for purposes outside the cabinet, e. g. for softening guttaperchaor wax. A pipe 5! leads from the union to a nozzle 54 at which theoperator can dry his hands by means of hot air after washing them undera sprayer 53 placed over a wash bowl and controlled by a foot lever 52.

Trays 55 are hinged to the cabinet in suitable positions for receivingwaste material, such as used cotton wool. Electric heating resistances56 are provided in or on these trays, with switches 51 (Fig. 10) forclosing their circuit, for the purpose of burning the waste material.

In the circuit closed by the contacts 3 I, 32 there is a relay 5 9,which automatically breaks the motor circuit when all the valves l8 areclosed. There is a main switch 58 enabling the motor circuit to beopened by hand.

The manner of using the apparatus is as follows.

The article to be sterilized is placed in the dish 40 and the lid 42thereof is closed. Then the dish is placed on a tray 22 and pushed intothe respective compartments of the cabinet. The finger 26 opens thevalve l8 controlling the nozzle l5 in that compartment, and the contacts3|, 32 close the motor circuit. The valve at first remains open, owingto the engagement of the tongue 20 with the moderately elastic compositestrip 2|. The blower ll consequently propels air into the compartment,this air being heated by the action of the resistances, and the articlein the dish is by this means sterilized. At the same time the dishitself, including its lid, is sterilized by the heat. The lamp 32 on thedoor of the compartment lights up, and thus shows which compart ment isin use. The hot air passes out of the compartment through the passageand flows to the chamber 31, where it is mixed with fresh air. Theblower sucks air from this chamber.

At a predetermined temperature, say 170 0., calculated to be fullyadequate for the sterilization required, the bending of the strip 2|releases the valve l8, which is closed by the spring IS,

the contacts 3|, 32 being opened at the same time.

The sterilized article is left in the cabinet till it is required againfor use. At any time the cabinet can be rotated in order to obtain easyaccess to some other compartment thereof. With the tray 22 pulled out,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the dish 42 standing thereon and held by thepin 45 can very conveniently be used as a temporary table for thearticle, unless thesame is to be used at some distance from the cabinet,as may be the case where several operators share the use of the cabinet.

It will be clear that instead of hot air some other gaseous medium maybe used, for example steam. Even where hot air is used it may be ofadvantage to provide for sterilization by steam in one or more of thecompartments, e. g. compartments used for bandages.

Provision may be made for cooling the cabinet, after sterilization, bypassing through it a stream of cold air, or by some other convenientmeans.

The equipment of the cabinet depends of course on the particular purposefor which it is to be used. For dental work compartments for tumbiers,drills and so on may with advantage be provided.

The cabinet may very well be installed in ambulances and other vehiclesfor road or held use,

military or otherwise. The heating of the air or other gas may beeffected by other than electric means, e. g. by means of a stove, andinstead of using a blower or fan the gas may be taken from cylinders inwhich it is stored under pressure.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 11 to 13 the cabinet a, likewise ofcylindrical shape, is likewise divided into numerous compartmentssurrounding a central tube 1) having branches 0 opening into thesecompartments. A pipe d connects the tube b to a compressed air cylindere outside the cabinet. This method of supplying the compressed air (ormay be other gas) has the advantage of simplicity, no motor and bloweror fan being required. A single cylinder may serve several cabinets. Itmay be a drum which is antomatically recharged. As the air or gas isusually at a fairly high pressure in such cylinders or drums theconduits through which the air is discharged may be of smaller diameterthan when a blower or fan is used, and this makes them easier toinsulate, and also saves space. The flow of air through the pipe d iscontrolled by means of a throttle valve h. For heating the air Fig. 11shows an electric heating resistance f in the pipe d. In the circuit ofthis resistance there is a switch q, which may be connected to thethrottle valve 50 that the switch is closed by opening'the valve, andopens when the valve is closed. Of course the heating may be effected insome other part of the air path, or in the cylinder or drum itself, ifdesired.

A pipe k, best shown in Fig. 12, is branched off the pipe d within thehollow foot on which the cabinet revolves, and passes through a coolingchamber 1 inside the foot, then re-joining the pipe 11 close to itsjunction with the vertical tube b. The cooling chamber may be servedwith water or any other cooling medium. Where the pipe I: branches oi!the pipe d there is a valve m. This valve can be set as shown by fulllines in Fig. 12 so that air on its way to the tube is cannot passthrough the branch tube, but it can also be set as indicated by brokenlines, so that all. the air must pass through the branch pipe beforereaching'the tube b. This latter setting of the valve is for the purposeoi cooling the articles in th cabinet after they have been The valve mis automatically controlled by the device shown in Fig. 13. An electriccircuit has therein a thermal switch 1:. whereby the circuit isautomatically closed when the switch is exposed to a predeterminedtemperature. The switch is located in any convenient part of theapparatus. when the circuit is closed a relay moves the valve m from theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 13 to the position in which itdeilects the air to the cooling apparatus. A catch 9 retains the valvein this position when the switch n has become cold again. The circuit ofthe heating resistance I may be opened by hand, or automatically bymeans of a thermal or relay controlled switch q.

It will be obvious that a cooling chamber for the air, and means fordeflecting the air through it, may also be incorporated in the apparatusshown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Idg. 14 shows a modification in which each of the branch pipes ornozzles c has'therein a heating resistance a and a valve i controllingthe discharge oi air into the respective compartments.

The principle of heating a stream of air so that it is sterilized, andthen cooling it so that it can be used in a sterilized but cold state,can be applied to purposes other than the service of sterilizingapparatus, for example to dental work I. in which cold, sterilized airis used for the treatment oi teeth or gums.

What I claim as my invention and desire to 1slecure by Letters Patentotthe United States 1. sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet havingtherein a plurality oi sterilizing compartments, a straight tubularconduit for a gaseous sterilizing medium in said cabinet, saidcompartments being grouped around 'said conduit, and branch conduits fordischarging gaseous sterilizing medium from said straight 'conduit intosaid compartments severally, said cabinet and said straight conduitbeing rotatable about the axis of the latter.

2. sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet having therein a pluralityof sterilizing compartments, a straight tubular conduit for a gaseoussterilizing medium in said cabinet, said compartments being groupedaround said conduit, means (or heating said gaseous sterilizing medium,and branch conduits for discharginggaseoussterilizingmediumtromsaidstraightconduit into said compartmentsseverally, said cabisterilizing medium in said cabinet, saidcompartments being grouped around said conduit, means 1 for heating saidgaseous sterilizing medium,

branch conduits for discharginggaseous sterilizing medium from saidstraight conduit into said compartments severally, and thermallycontrolled devices automatically controlling the discharge of thegaseous medium from said branch conduits, said cabinet and said straightconduit being rotatable about the axis of the latter.

4. sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet having therein a pluralityof sterilizing compartments, a straight tubular conduit for a gaseoussterilizing medium in said cabinet, said compartments being groupedaround said conduit, means for heating said gaseous sterilizing medium,branch conduits for discharging gaseous sterilizing medium from saidstraight conduit into said compartments severally, and thermallycontrolled devices automatically controlling the discharge of thegaseous medium from said branch conduits, and also controlling saidmeans for heating said gaseous medium, said cabinet and said straightconduit being rotatable about the axis of the latter.

5. sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet having therein a pluralityof sterilizing compartments, a straight tubular conduit for a gaseoussterilizing medium in said cabinet, said compartments being groupedaround said conduit, means for heating said gaseous sterilizing medium,branch conduits for discharging gaseous sterilizing medium from saidstraight conduit into said compartments severally, thermally controlleddevices automatically controiling the discharge of gaseous medium fromsaid branch conduits, and signalling devices, one for each compartment,automatically indicating when discharge of gaseous medium into therespective compartments is taking, place, said cabinet and said straightconduit being rotatable about the axis of the latter.

6. sterilizing apparatus comprising a cabinet having therein a pluralityof sterilizing compartments, astraight tubular conduit for a gaseoussterilizing medium in said cabinet, said compartments being groupedaround said conduit, branch conduits for discharging gaseous sterilizingmedium from said straight conduit into said compsrtments severally, andcontainers in said compartments having openings into which said branchconduits extend and having also openings for the escape oi gaseousmedium discharged thereinto from said branch conduits, said cabi-- netand said straight conduit being rotatable about the axis of the latter.

JOSEPH PILLKOI'IR.

